Sports

Riveting Netflix Michael Jordan documentary exceeds all expectations – Toronto Sun

Published

5 years ago

April 17, 2020

A lot of people became basketball fans during the Toronto Raptors’ stirring run to the NBA title last year. If you’re one of them, you’re likely missing hoops quite a bit right now. Netflix is about to start filling some of that void, and whether you’re a long-time basketball junkie, or a reality show fan, there’s a lot to be excited about. That’s because more than 20 years after behind-the-scenes footage was shot of Michael Jordan’s final season and championship with the Chicago Bulls, the resulting documentary is finally seeing the light of day.

A co-production of ESPN Films and Netflix, the 10-part The Last Dance was moved up from a planned June unveiling to this Sunday in the U.S. and Monday in Canada. Episodes will hit Netflix in this country two at a time, starting on Monday, until the final two go live on May 18.

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The series begins with a shot from behind of a seated Jordan gazing out into the horizon as a crawl sets up where things stood at at the time, Star Wars style. To recap: Jordan’s Bulls had won five titles in the last seven seasons and were preparing to try to three-peat for the second time, but everyone was wondering if this would be it for one of the greatest runs in sporting history because of various hard feelings in the front office and amongst some of the players owing primarily to jealousy and monetary disputes.

Interspersing clips of Jordan’s franchise-saving arrival in Chicago in 1984 with the man himself, fittingly addressing the United Center crowd 23 years later with five NBA championship trophies set out in front of him, The Last Dance gets rolling, immediately pulling viewers in. It never stops doing that, at least over the first four episodes that Postmedia was given to screen.

At first it’s a bit jarring to see a young, humble, low-key Jordan with hair vs. all of the intersecting later shots of the most dominant player in NBA history doing his thing, along with the reflections of the current business titan, now in his late fifties.

Unlike the VHS tapes and DVDs of the 1980s and 90s that built up the Jordan legend, putting him in a class, as one person interviewed in the doc says, only with the likes of Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali, this work is not mere hagiography. Jordan is presented warts and all. From cruelly ripping long-time Bulls general manager Jerry Krause — the driving force of the ill-conceived desire to tear apart the team — to his face, to being relentless with his teammates during tough stretches, there’s a reason Jordan told director Jason Hehir (Andre the Giant, The Fab Five, The ’85 Bears) that people will think he’s “a horrible guy” and won’t understand why he acted the way he did when they watch the film. “My innate personality is to win at all costs. If I have to do it myself, (I will) do it … It drives me insane when I can’t,” Jordan says years later in trying to explain his mindset and actions. His mother, Deloris, and brother, Ronnie, also provide some insight into where he got those traits from, based on his upbringing.

And that’s the true triumph of the series. Incredibly, for once, Jordan, one of the most famous and scrutinized people on the planet for over 35 years now, is presented as human. When can you ever recall Jordan being revealed as such? Not just as a myth, but as a living, breathing, person. It’s impossible not to chuckle when Jordan is handed a tablet showing a video of his mother reading a letter a teenaged Jordan wrote to her while at college at North Carolina. In it, Jordan, who is now a billionaire and owns the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, says he’s down to his last $20, so could use a handout, along with some stamps from his parents. “And sorry about the phone bill,” Jordan adds. In another moment Jordan laughs and tells a story when asked about the cocaine problems of some of his rookie season teammates.

While sports provides much of the background of the journey, there’s so much more here. There are Survivor and Big Brother elements owing to the rare, up close and personal footage, which was simply not done at the time. Jordan commissioned the crew when it became clear that 1997-98 would be the end of a remarkable era and head coach Phil Jackson and ownership were on board. What they revealed was the fractious nature of the organization at the time. All of the palace intrigue is there. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf tries to explain the still baffling reasoning behind tearing down the iconic group and starting a rebuild, reminding that the Bulls nearly made the mistake of doing so a year earlier, following the fifth title. It’s something to see Jordan openly challenging management and ownership while up on a dais right after winning number five. That same night, Jordan’s running mate Scottie Pippen, also featured heavily throughout, particularly in Episode 2, holds nothing back in talking about being underpaid and disrespected by the Bulls. Jordan also is there saying he won’t play for another coach if Jackson is pushed out by Krause, which basically forced ownership’s hand in giving Jackson one more year. Jackson called that final season “The Last Dance.”

Jordan talked about how angry the idea of not trying to win again made him.

“We’re entitled to defend what we have until we lose it.” Then he scoffed at the idea of rebuilding and buried the Chicago Cubs by saying they’d been rebuilding for 42 years, took a shot at ownership by saying they should have respect for the people who made them profitable — an open response to Krause saying organizations win championships, not players — which got under Jordan’s skin. Krause would unsuccessfully try to clear up the controversial quote, by saying he said players and coaches alone don’t win championships.

“We felt like we were the greatest team ever,” Pippen says at one point, making it clear he still doesn’t understand why some were so eager to move on.

And, oh yes, there’s plenty of Dennis Rodman, the most unique athlete we’ve ever seen, as well as thoughts from the likes of Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, James Worthy, Jordan’s Canadian Bulls teammate Bill Wennington (who provides strong insight throughout), former Raptor and close Jordan pal Charles Oakley (who is memorably shown roughhousing with an overly confident rookie Pippen). Bill Clinton, a fellow Arkansas native, even appears to discuss seeing Pippen play for the first time when Clinton was still governor of that state.

The late David Stern and Krause and even Chicago native Barack Obama, who talks about not being able to afford a ticket in Jordan’s early years, when the hoops icon had saved the franchise and nearly tripled their attendance, all provide some historical context.

Jordan can’t save the world, but thanks to his foresight in hiring the camera crew and the work of so many in the ensuing decades to make The Last Dance happen, he and his friends and foes can at least brighten up our days a little bit for the next few weeks.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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